Daughter of Twin Oaks (A Secret Refuge #1)

This book is very well written and made me want to order the next one in the series before I had even finished it.

I have not read such an astounding set of books for years!!! Being of 100% Norwegian descent, as well as, born & raised in North Dakota, I learned so much more reading these books! I have shared my enthusiasm of this series with many other people who, too, have invested in them. They, too, had enjoyed them immensely! Lauraine put much research into her writings of this series which was very evident. I pray Lauraine will keep this series going at least to the present day. You have never read a series till you read the Red River of the North series from Lauraine Snelling, believe me!!!Sincerely, Rachel Axness

I'm usually disappointed in a lot of books, since usually the story itself would be excellent except the characters are undeveloped and the plot isn't good with a bad ending. This book was excellent, and will be one of my favorites for a long time. "Jesse" and Louisa are two lovable characters, and their stories keep you reading. Since one chapter would be about "Jesse" and the next about Louisa, I couldn't stop reading so that I could find out what happened to each of them! :o)

Having thorougly enjoyed Snelling's Red River of the North series, I couldn't wait to read Daughter of Twin Oaks. In this book, the setting is a thoroughbred horse farm in Kentucky in the midst of the Civil War. Jesselyn's father and brothers are away in battle and she sends her younger sisters away to an aunt's home for safety. After her father comes home to die from his battle wounds, she realizes that she needs to get her horses away from Kentucky if she will have anything left to start over with after the war. Taking her little brother and her few now-freed slaves with her, they embark on a perilous journey where danger and adventure await them on every corner. A devout Christian, Jesselyn finds that her faith gradually slips away as they encounter pitfall after pitfall. By the end of the book, she has quit praying altogether and is blaming God for the war. Meanwhile, her sisters in Richmond find love and happiness with soldiers that they meet and reunite with their long-lost brother, now wounded from battle. Unlike Jesselyn, they retain their faith in God, even when Louisa's soldier is declared missing and probably dead. This book was good and kept me reading, and I want to read the second one because so many loose ends were left. Will Jesselyn ever get all of them to safety? Will she ever give her heart back to God? Will Louisa's true love return? Will Twin Oaks still remain when they get back home? Anyone who enjoys historical Christian fiction will like this book.

Lauraine Snelling has once again impressed me with one of her books. A fabulous story of a girl who shows courage to rescue her family's horses from the Civil War. Great start to a new series.

Terrific. The best yet, since Eagles Wings. Mrs Snelling outdid herself in this tragic tale of the Civil War. Miss Jesselynn turns Marse Jesse, and keeps her promise to her father. You'll be enthralled on this breaktaking journey of a young woman's quest to lead her Thoroughbreds to safety!